The Heinkel He 59 was one of Germany's most versatile maritime aircraft of the 1930s and early 1940s — a large twin-engine biplane floatplane that served as torpedo bomber, maritime reconnaissance platform, and air-sea rescue aircraft across multiple theatres of the Second World War. This collection brings together the essential technical documentation for the He 59 C and D variants, alongside armament manuals and rare original German-language illustrative materials, forming a comprehensive archival resource for historians, researchers, and aviation enthusiasts. For a deeper historical overview, visit our dedicated article: Heinkel He 59 – The Multirole Attack, Reconnaissance and Rescue Seaplane.

Definitive Collection with Free Lifetime Updates: This is a living collection that we continuously expand and refine. As we acquire additional Heinkel He 59 documentation, technical bulletins, or variant-specific materials, we update this collection and provide free lifetime updates to all purchasers. Your one-time purchase guarantees access to all future additions and improvements to this collection.

Historical Note

Designed in 1930 to meet a Reichsmarine requirement for a torpedo bomber and reconnaissance floatplane, the Heinkel He 59 was developed in parallel with a nominally civil transport version to circumvent the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. First flown in 1931, it entered Luftwaffe service in 1936 and saw its operational debut during the Spanish Civil War with the Condor Legion, where it flew maritime patrol and minelaying missions.

The He 59 was a large, three-bay biplane of mixed construction — a welded steel tube fuselage with fabric-covered wooden wings — powered by two BMW VI 6.0 ZU liquid-cooled V-12 engines, each producing approximately 492 kW (660 hp). Its large twin floats doubled as fuel tanks, extending operational range to 1,530 km with auxiliary tanks. Though underpowered and slow by wartime standards, its stability made it a reliable bombing and patrol platform.

By the outbreak of the Second World War, the He 59 had been largely relegated from front-line bombing duties but found a new and critical role as an air-sea rescue aircraft (He 59C-2), operating under Red Cross markings to recover downed aircrew from the English Channel and North Sea during the Battle of Britain. It also served as a navigation trainer (He 59C-1, D-1, N) and minelayer throughout the conflict. Production totalled approximately 142 aircraft across all variants. Read the full story on our blog: Heinkel He 59 – The Multirole Attack, Reconnaissance and Rescue Seaplane.

Manuals Included in This Collection

Variant C

• He 59 Aircraft Handbook (Flugzeug-Handbuch) — English Language
• He 59 Aircraft Handbook – Flugzeug-Handbuch (German Language)

Variant D

• He 59 Operating Instructions — English Language
• He 59 Aircraft – Short Operating Instructions, Kurzbetriebsanleitung (German Language)

Armament

• MG 15 Machine Gun Operating Instructions – Bedienungsvorschrift LDv 110 (German Language)

Slides, Photos and Brochures

• He 59 Aircraft Multi-purpose Seaplane and Technical Data – Mehrzwecke-Seeflugzeug und Technische Daten (German Language)

This collection spans the He 59 C and D variants in depth, covering airframe handling, operating procedures, and armament systems, complemented by a rare original German illustrative technical data brochure from the production era.

Engineering Norms and Standards

• Airframe Construction: Mixed construction — welded steel tube fuselage, wooden fabric-covered wings and tail surfaces. Three-bay biplane configuration with significant wing area for stability and load-carrying capacity.
• Float Configuration: Twin-float seaplane; floats served as integral fuel tanks, providing extended range. Designed for both float and wheeled undercarriage configurations.
• Powerplant: Two BMW VI 6.0 ZU liquid-cooled V-12 engines, each rated at approximately 492 kW (660 hp). Four-bladed fixed-pitch wooden Schwartz propellers.
• Armament (He 59B-2): Three 7.92 mm MG 15 machine guns (nose, dorsal, and ventral positions); capable of carrying one 1,764 lb torpedo or one 1,100 lb bomb load.
• Performance Data (He 59B-2): Maximum speed 221 km/h (137 mph) at sea level; cruise speed 185 km/h (115 mph); range 942 km standard, 1,530 km with auxiliary tanks; service ceiling 3,500 m (11,480 ft); empty weight 5,010 kg; loaded weight 9,119 kg.
• Variants Covered: He 59C (air-sea rescue, navigation trainer conversions He 59C-1/C-2) and He 59D (Kurzbetriebsanleitung D-1); armament documentation covers the MG 15 weapon system as fitted across variants.

Format and Delivery

All documents are delivered as high-resolution digital PDF files, available for immediate download upon purchase. Files are optimized for both on-screen reading and high-quality printing, and are compatible with all standard PDF readers on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

Disclaimer

All documents in this collection are provided for historical research and reference purposes only. They do not constitute airworthiness authority or current maintenance guidance. Always consult current regulatory authorities and type certificate holders for operational aircraft. Trade names and designations are the property of their respective owners. Copyright © Sicuro Publishing.